Dataset and R-script for simple mechanistic model of Heracleum sosnowskyi seed dispersal by wind

<p>The dataset contains:</p> <p>- primary data about Heracleum sosnowskyi seeds traits &nbsp;(terminal velocity, mass, area, wing loading) and release heights&nbsp;&nbsp;for&nbsp; <em>H. sosnowskyi</em> populations from two geographically distant Russia regions;</p> <p>- results of experiments of model seeds launches under different wind speeds;</p> <p>- R script for exploratory statistical analysis, linear regressions and mechanistc models testing.</p> <p>The anemochorous seed dispersal was generalized with a number of empirical and mechanistic models of varying complexity. The aim of this work was to develop the simplest possible mechanistic model of <em>Heracleum sosnowskyi</em> that allows to determine the distance of seed dispersal by wind with an accuracy comparable to that of empirical measurements. We measured and compared the characteristics of the seeds (terminal velocity, mass, area, wing loading) as well as the release height for <em>H. sosnowskyi</em> populations from two geographically distant Russia regions. We tested two simplest mechanistic models: a ballistic model and a wind gradient model using identical artificial seeds with characteristics similar to those of real <em>H. sosnowskyi</em> seeds. The wind gradient model gave the best results, despite the fact that uniform in shape, weight and size artificial <em>H. sosnowskyi</em> seeds, when dropped simultaneously from the same height, fly off at different distances. This model provides an estimate of dispersal distances with an accuracy comparable to that of empirical measurements. We plan to use the presented model to develop an individual-based model that will allow us to calculate the flight distances of <em>H. sosnowskyi</em> propagules, taking into account real weather conditions in different years and in different parts of its invasion range. All primary data and R-scripts used are freely available at the Zenodo repository (https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3766035).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>